When the charismatic former New York Metropolis Ballet star Damian Woetzel was named president of the celebrated Juilliard Faculty in 2017, the varsity’s highly effective chairman, Bruce Kovner, praised his “uncommon combine” of mental and creative qualities.
However earlier this yr Kovner advised Woetzel that an inside analysis had discovered a insecurity in his management and requested him to resign by the tip of June, a yr earlier than the tip of his contract, in keeping with a letter Woetzel despatched to the varsity’s trustees that was obtained by The New York Instances.
Woetzel fought again and succeeded in rallying assist behind him, getting testimonials from a number of eminent artists together with the trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, who directs Juilliard’s jazz program, and the pianist Emanuel Ax, a number one member of the school. And he wrote in his letter to trustees that the efficiency evaluate “was extraordinary and extremely inconsistent with finest apply in nonprofit governance — it was conceived, initiated and managed by our board chairman.”
Issues got here to a head at a board assembly final month. The trustees, when knowledgeable of the analysis and Kovner’s suggestion that Woetzel be eased out, declined to take action. Kovner, lengthy the varsity’s greatest benefactor, is planning to step down this June after 22 years as its chairman, a transfer that one affiliate stated had lengthy been deliberate.
Kovner declined to remark, and Juilliard offered a press release from the board to The New York Instances during which it stated that “at its most up-to-date assembly, the board strongly reaffirmed its assist for President Damian Woetzel” and the 10-year strategic plan that the varsity created in 2019.
The assertion stated that the board was “unwavering in its give attention to the very best pursuits of the scholars of the Juilliard Faculty, and stays dedicated to supporting the varsity’s distinctive college, workers and administration.”
Some noticed the battle as a uncommon energy wrestle between two distinguished figures within the cultural world, a showdown between previous guard and new blood.
Given Kovner’s immense affect as Juilliard’s greatest patron — and as an essential determine at Lincoln Heart, Juilliard’s house, the place he serves on the board and has given massive sums — some have been stunned to see Woetzel prevail. One trustee likened it to a David and Goliath story.
Woetzel, 54 — who earned a grasp’s diploma in public administration from the John F. Kennedy Faculty of Authorities at Harvard whereas nonetheless dancing — has constructed a nationwide popularity, having directed the Aspen Institute Arts Program and the Vail Worldwide Dance Competition and served on President Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
Kovner, 75, whose internet price Forbes estimates at $6.2 billion, has been one thing of a everlasting authorities at Juilliard, having served as chairman for an unusually very long time. Along with his spouse, Suzie, Kovner’s presents have included $25 million towards a brand new wing and scholarships in 2005; a trove of valuable music manuscripts in 2006; $20 million for the early music program in 2012; and $60 million for a brand new scholarship program in 2013.
At Lincoln Heart, Kovner was one of many greatest donors to the redevelopment of the performing arts complicated, serves on the board of the Metropolitan Opera and was previously a trustee of the New York Philharmonic.
The standoff posed a problem for the board and the varsity, provided that Kovner’s ongoing assist of Juilliard stays essential.
Woetzel’s analysis was despatched to 49 members of the school and workers — together with each division head and 18 direct experiences — 43 of whom responded to it anonymously. There are about 700 full-time and part-time members of Juilliard’s college and workers.
The evaluate was designed and carried out by Kovner and J. Christopher Kojima, a vice chairman, Woetzel’s letter to the board stated. His letter stated that it was “not carried out at an arm’s size distance by an impartial celebration as is finest apply for nonprofit establishments of our scale.”
The responses included 143 feedback, greater than three-quarters of which have been detrimental, in keeping with somebody aware about a abstract of the report who was granted anonymity to explain this delicate personnel matter.
The suggestions amounted to a number of key criticisms, in keeping with the abstract, which was described to The Instances: that Woetzel centered on efficiency as an alternative of training; had weak administrative management; didn’t seek the advice of college members on key choices; and created an environment of worry and intimidation.
A query about confidence in Juilliard’s future met with a detrimental response from greater than half of those that responded, in keeping with the individual accustomed to the abstract.
On Jan. 27, Woetzel was requested to go away, in keeping with his letter to the board.
“Bruce Kovner communicated — on behalf of the Govt Committee — that my service as president could be terminated previous to the tip of my contract, and that the choice was ‘irrevocable,’” Woetzel wrote within the letter to trustees.
“Having communicated to me this intent to terminate,” the letter stated, “Bruce then emailed me a proposal of a severance package deal that would come with a collectively crafted assertion that might create a false narrative that I used to be resigning as of June thirtieth.”
The letter gave Woetzel 96 hours to reply. He determined to not resign.
On Feb. 4, Kovner despatched the outcomes of the analysis to the complete board, saying the findings have been regarding and could be mentioned on the repeatedly scheduled board assembly 4 days later.
Woetzel marshaled assist from a lot of distinguished artists and colleagues, who despatched letters to the board prematurely of the assembly.
“Damian has a document of excellence in his management of the varsity, particularly throughout two pandemic years and these deeply troubling social, political and monetary occasions which have modified the social panorama of America,” Marsalis wrote in his letter, obtained by The Instances. “He has been engaged with college students, college and board in making an attempt to create a contemporary establishment that’s nimble and capable of deal with the very actual issues of scholars and alumni around the globe.”
“I really feel how we’re going about this brings our ethics into query,” Marsalis continued. “This try to take away him appears to be poorly thought out, poorly executed, and it’ll place a stain on our establishment that even our love of assets and fragile spirit won’t simply take away.”
The trombone participant Weston Sprott, who’s the dean of Juilliard’s Preparatory Division, warned in an e-mail to Ax, an influential college member, that “a call to terminate Damian can be extremely dangerous to the establishment.”
“Within the midst of managing the bumps and bruises that could possibly be anticipated in navigating the nationwide reckoning relating to racial injustice,” Sprott continued, “Damian has put collectively maybe probably the most numerous, inclusive and profitable management workforce in our trade — one that’s revered by college students and college and is the envy of its opponents.”
Kovner and the chief committee anticipate Woetzel to deal with the issues raised within the analysis with exterior coaches and underneath the steering of the trustee Reginald Van Lee, a former administration marketing consultant, in keeping with the individual accustomed to the abstract. However one trustee stated no such plan of action has been determined by the complete board.
Woetzel began out as an unconventional selection for Juilliard, having by no means labored in educational administration, not to mention at one of many world’s main performing arts colleges, which on the time of his appointment had a $110 million annual price range, a $1 billion endowment, and greater than 800 college students.
At Juilliard, Woetzel has made a number of noteworthy advances, securing a $50 million present to broaden the varsity’s weekend coaching program aimed largely at Black and Latino schoolchildren; filling a number of key positions; and guiding the varsity by way of the difficult two years of the pandemic.
However he has additionally had bumps alongside the way in which. After a drama workshop on the college involving the re-enactment of a slave public sale prompted an outcry, Woetzel issued a “heartfelt apology” in a word to the neighborhood.
Final June, college students protested a deliberate tuition enhance, occupying elements of Juilliard’s Lincoln Heart campus and holding avenue demonstrations. (A number of different main music and drama colleges provide free tuition.)
Kovner, who made his fortune as a hedge fund supervisor, has contributed extensively to conservative causes and has served on the boards of the American Enterprise Institute and the Manhattan Institute, each right-leaning suppose tanks. Final Might, Metropolis Journal, which is printed by the Manhattan Institute, criticized what it described as the varsity’s “rising cadre of range bureaucrats” in an article headlined “The Revolution Involves Juilliard: Racial hysteria is consuming the varsity; unchecked, it’ll eat the humanities.”
Kovner has additionally supported left-leaning organizations, together with the Innocence Challenge, which goals to free the wrongfully convicted; and Lambda Authorized, dedicated to civil rights for lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender folks.
Now Juilliard is making ready for the subsequent chapter. This week the varsity’s Duke Ellington Ensemble was scheduled to carry out a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Juilliard Jazz on the Chelsea Manufacturing facility, a brand new arts house.